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Welcome to Close Call Sports. CCS objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner: MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), whose purpose is to objectively track and analyze umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Confirmed: MLB Hires Quinn Wolcott, Gary Darling Retires

MLB confirmed it has hired Quinn Wolcott to its umpire staff to replace Gary Darling, who has retired after a 28-year career. Major League Baseball's announcement confirms the UEFL rumor of this staff movement.

For some perspective into Darling's 28-year career, consider this: The umpire hired to replace him, Wolcott, is 28 years old.

Hired: Quinn Wolcott (81)

Wolcott made his Major League debut during the Memorial Day Diamondbacks-Rangers doubleheader on May 27, 2013. At the time of his big league debut, the UEFL tagged Wolcott with a *rising star alert*. At the age of 24, he was the youngest umpire promoted to AAA in 2011 and became a Pacific Coast League crew chief at the age of 26, in 2013. His minor league history includes the Arizona, Northwest, Midwest, Carolina, California, Southern and PCL. He officiated the 2012 Arizona Fall League Championship Game and World Baseball Classic qualifying.

Wolcott has been assigned to Gerry Davis' crew for the next several weeks.

Retired: Gary Darling (37)

Since breaking into the National League in 1986, Darling umpired 3,270 regular season, 85 postseason and two All-Star Games. He finished his career with 111 ejections, his first an attempted tackle and interception of Cubs batter Shawon Dunston, who was tossed for charging the mound. UEFL member tmac: "He was a no nonsense umpire who had 111 EJs in his career and took care of biz. Widely regarded as one of the best ball-strike guys around."